Dental appliance



April 7, 1959 c. D. STRICKLER DENTAL APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1958 CARL D. STRICKLER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY April 1959 c. D. STRICKLER 2,880,509.

DENTAL APPLIANCE Filed May 5, 1958 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'I/l/AE FIG. 'IO

ATTORNEY United States Patent DENTAL APPLIANCE Carl D. Strickler, Oklahoma City, Okla. Application May 5, 1958, Serial No. 732,843

8 Claims. (Cl. 32-14) The present invention relates to dental appliances and more particularly to a device for use by Orthodontists in straightening teeth.

The present application is an improvement over a patent issued to me on February 11, 1957, under No. 2,822,612, for Dental Appliance.

It has been found in actual practice that, while the device disclosed by my above mentioned patent performs very well, it is necessary to provide some means to relieve or prevent a sucking action between the flange of my device and the wearers gums. The sucking action is occasioned by reduced pressure within the wearers mouth as a result of repeated swallowing which causes the flange to irritate the wearers gums. Furthermore, it has been found that some means must be provided to enable the patient to breathe through the mouth, as for example, when the patient has a blocked nasal passage as the result of a cold.

In some individuals a condition of malocclusion exists by reason of the incisor teeth protruding forwardly of the maxillary arch.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a dental appliance by which retruding pressure may be applied to forwardly protruding teeth. An additionally important object is to provide a device which may be worn at selected convenient times by the patient, such as at night time, and which may be removed by the patient when desired.

A similarly important object is to provide a device which may be applied to an acute case of malocclusion without forming casts or models of the individuals teeth.

Another important object is to provide a device of this type in which the straightening or corrective pressure placed on the teeth is adjustable by the patient, thus eliminating excessive pressure on a tooth or teeth, as sometimes occurs under periodic adjustment of conventional braces, and the like, by the orthodontist.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which may be formed of soft relatively resilient material, in a series of sizes and range of corrective angles, so that any individual may be initially and progressively fitted without the loss of valuable chair time.

Still another object is to provide a dental appliance by which protruding teeth may be gradually moved to a desired position without injury to the teeth or the tissues of the dental arch, and with a minimum of discomfort and expense to the patient.

Yet another object is to provide a device of this class which is provided with means whereby the individual can breathe through the mouth, if necessary, which means cannot be rendered in-operable by any position of the patients tongue.

The present invention accomplishes these and other objects by providing a device formed of resilient material, including a flange equipped web having a curvature substantially conforming to the maxilla dental arch of a ice normal person. The flange is adapted to be received between the teeth and upper lip of the user, with the inward surface of the flange angled rearwardly to contiguously contact the forward surfaces of the incisor teeth. Retruding means carried by the flange medially its ends applies corrective pressure to the teeth.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying two sheets of drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the device in operative position on a patient, the patients head being shown in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the device, per se;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary cross-sectional views similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating modifications thereof;

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 2 illustrating a tubular breathing means;

Figure 8 is a top plan view illustrating a prong reinforcing means and a modified breathing slot;

Figure 9 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a modified form of the device;

Figures 10, ll, 12 and 13, are fragmentary cross-sectional views illustrating various breathing means positioned through a modified form of the device;

Figure 14 is a top plan View of a modified form of the device in which the retruding means is imbedded in the forward portion of the flange;

Figure 15 is a front elevational view of the device as seen in Fig. 14;

Figure 16 a top the device;

Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which they occur.

In the drawings:

The reference numeral 20 indicates, as a whole, the device which is preferably molded or cast in a single piece from some suitable yieldable resilient material. Soft rubber has been found highly satisfactory in that it produces a device which is permanently shaped yet may be deformed under pressure. The device includes a substantially semi-elliptical band or web 22 having substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces 24 and 26, respectively. The web 22 is adapted to be received horizontally between the teeth of the maxilla and mandible dental arches of the wearer. The thickness of the web 22 may be varied as desired, but is preferably only of such thickness as may be necessary to enable the device to retain its desired contour and which may be received between the upper and lower teeth of the wearers mouth when the lower jaw is in a relaxed or rest position. The web is formed with a central rearward recess defined by an arcuate inner edge 27 to accommodate the tongue of the user. As illustrated in the drawings, the web 22 is somewhat band-like in appearance.

The device further includes a flange integral with the periphery of the web and extending above and below the surfaces 24 and 26 to form an upper flange 28 and a lower flange 30. The flanges 28 and 30 are co-extensive with the web 22. The opposing outer surfaces of the flanges 28 and 3t) converge toward the free edge of the respective flange so that the flanges may be received between the respective teeth and upper and lower lips of the wearer without any undue discomfort being experienced by the wearer. The upper flange 28 is inclined rearwardly from its juncture with the Web at the forward end or portion which contacts the free ends of the incisor teeth,

plan view of another modification of thus forming. an angle. with respect to the plane of the web 22. The angle formed between the flange 28 and the web 22 is fixed for each of the devices 20, but it is to be understood that, for treating any one individual a series of these devices; will be used beginning first with the device having the more acute angle, which conforms to or fits the particular angle of tooth protrusion, then later changing to devices having a greater angle as the teeth are progressively straightened. A relatively small inside radius 32 is formed at the juncture of the inner surface. of the flange 28 with the upper surface 24 of the web at the forward end portion of the device which contacts the free ends of the incisor teeth. The purpose of; the radius is to prevent a wedging or driving action or force, being exerted against the incisor teeth which would tend to force the teeth upwardly into the gums in contradistinction to urging the lower ends of the teethrearwardly.

Referring now more. particularly to Figs. 1 to 9;, inelusive, it may be seen that the device 20 includes a substantially- Ll-shaped element 34 integrally connected to the central forward outer surface of the flange 28 and projecting forward substantially horizontal therefrom. The legs of the U-shape terminate in diverging relation forwardly of the flange 28 in spaced-apart relation and are each slightly angled upward with respect to the plane of the web 22, thus forming a pair of prongs 36 and 38. The bight 40 of the U-shaped element 34 is spaced from the outer surface of the flange 28 a selected distance by a substantially rectangular section 42 which has a vertical thickness substantially twice that of the web 22 to provide a firm base and to permit the section 42 to be received between the lips of the wearer. The lower surface ofthe element 34 at its juncture with the flange 28 is preferably disposed above the plane defined by the lower surface 26 of the web so that retruding means 44 connected to the free ends of the prongs 36 and 38 will transmit pressure to the flange 28. Transversely, the width of the element 34 is such that the rectangular section 42 may be comfortably positioned between the lips and yet have sufficient width to space the prongs 36 and 38 apart a distance so that the retruding means 44 connected thereto will tend to provide a lateral and rearward pull on the forward portion and each respective side of the device.

The lower flange 30 may be omitted if disired, as exemplified by Figs. 3 through 6, where the lower surface 26 of the web defines the bottom of the entire device.

The above description of the device 20 is substantially identical with respect to the device disclosed in the above referred to patent. As mentioned hereinabove it is essentialto provide some means to eliminate the sucking effect between the flange 28 and the gums, not shown, of the wearer occasioned by the swallowing et cetera of the patient. This is accomplished quite simply by providing an opening or aperture 50 extending through the flange28 and section 42 substantially parallel with the web surface 24 (Fig. 4). Thus, the aperture 513 permits air under atmospheric pressure to enter the wearers mouth even with the'lips closed. This serves the desired purpose very well but has the deficiency of causing a sensation of cold to be felt on the wearers teeth when breathing through the mouth when out of doors in cold weather. This objection may be overcome by forming an aperture 51 which extends fro-m the bight 40 rearwardly through the web 22 and opens to the edge 27 of the web at the forward end portion thereof (Fig. 3). Thus, the aperture 51 is entirely surrounded by the substance of the device. The only objection to forming the aperture 51 in this manner is that the wearer of the device might permit the tongue to close the end of the aperture opening-to'the edge 2? and thus defeat its purpose. Therefore, aperture 51 is preferably formed in this manner and the device is additionally provided with vertically disposed opening 52-=(Fig. 5) extendingthrough the web 22 between the rearwardv surface of the flange 28 and the web edge 27 and communicating with the opening 51. This provides a three way end for the aperture 51. The patients tongue may cover or close any two of the ends of the three openings without defeating the purpose of the same. It seems obvious that it is physically impossible for all three ends of the openings to be simultaneously closed by the tongue. Fig. 6 illustrates a modification of the aperture arrangement of Fig. 5 in which the rearward end of the aperture 51' terminates forwardly of the web edge 27 and communicates with the vertical opening 52 to provide an exit, for the aperture 51 to the upper and lower surfaces 24 and 26, respectively, of the web.

Fig. 7 illustrates an alternate arrangement of providing a breathing aperture for the device in that a tubular member 53 is extended from the bight 4t rearwardly through the web 22 and terminates rearward substantially equidistant with respect to the limit of the elliptical web 2.2. Thus the tubular member 53 extends well bacle into the mouth of the wearer when the; device is in placeand. the wearers tongue cannot eflectively close the rearward end of the member 53.

Fig. 8 illustrates a slightly modified version of the element 34 of the device in which the spacing between the bight 40 of the element and the outer surface of the flange 28 has been reduced thus forming a relatively short section 42 when measured forwardly from the flange 28. The purpose of: forming the section 42 in this manner is to insure a more direct pressure on the flange 28 when pressure is applied to the prongs 36 and 38 by the retruding means 44. The prongs 36 and 38 are reinforced by a wire member 58 transversely extended through the base end portion of the prongs adjacent the bight 40. The opposing ends ofthe member 58 are each areuately curved or coiled. to form a ring-like end 59 which contacts the flange 28. Thus, when the prongs are bent rearwardly, as shown in Fig. l, the member 58 acts to strengthen the connection between the prongs and the section 42' while simultaneously transmitting retruding pressure to the flange 28. In this instance the breathing aperture 55, similar to 51 shown in Fig. 6, is formed of a width which transversely is as great as the spacing between the prongs 36 and 38. A plurality of vertically disposed openings 52' are open to the upper and lower surfaces of the web 22.

As is shown by Fig. 9 the web 22 and flange-28. of the. device 20 may be foraminated, as at 66,.in addition to the breathing aperture 51.

Operation In operation any one of the devices 20, shown by Figs; 1 through 9, is installed within the wearers mouth as described hereinabove. The retruding wires 44 are con nected at one end to the free ends of the prongs 36'and 33, respectively, and are bowed outwardly in spaced relation with respect to the wearers cheeks and extended rearwardly a selected distance. The rearward free end of each wire 44-is arcuately curved downward as at 45 to provide a hook for engagement with any conventional head gear 62 carried by thehead 64 of the wearer. The wires 44 or head gear 62 are adjusted to provide the desired tension for exerting a pull on the respective prongs 36 and 38. As is illustratedin Fig. 1 the prongs, when under tension, will be flexed laterallyand rear wardly, thus resulting in a continuous pressure" being applied against forwardly protruding teeth.

A particular advantage of the use of such a dental appliance resides in the ease with which the wearer-may remove-or install the device at will thus permitting the use of the latter at times of leisure or-while sleeping: The resilient flexibility of the prongs 36 and 38 provide a continual gentle pull on the protruding teethwith'ihe amount of pressure being easily altered by the adjustment of the'wires 44 relative to the head gear 62.

Referring now more particularly to Figs." IO'throughI-Si inclusive, an alternate embodiment 20A of the device is illustrated which includes structure similar to the device 20, namely, a substantially semi-elliptical web 22A having upper and lower surfaces 24A and 26A, respectively, and an upper flange 28A. The device 20A may include a lower or depending flange 30A (Fig. 15) interrupted and formed with arcuate edges, as at 70, to provide an opening at the forward end portion of the device. If the lower flange 30A is omitted the lower surface 26A forms the bottom of the device as indicated by the dotted line (Fig. 15) and as illustrated in Figs. to 13, inclusive. The device 20A is characterized by the manner of forming or connecting the retruding means 44A thereto. As is more clearly shown in Fig. the retruding means, comprising a single wire member 44A, is imbedded in the material of the device forming the upper flange 28A. The wire 44A enters the outer surface of the flange 28A in spaced-apart relation at the forward end portion thereof and is arcuately curved upwardly to substantially form an inverted U-shape overlying the area of the flange contacting the incisor teeth. When the device A is in wearing position the wire 44A protrudes from opposing sides of the wearers mouth for connection with head gear in a manner similar to that disclosed hereinabove for the device 20.

The device 20A is similarly provided with an opening or aperture as at 50A (Fig. 10), 51A (Fig. 11) and 51A (Fig. 13) for the reasons explained hereinabove for the device 20. Similarly Fig. 14 illustrates a tubular member 53A imbedded within the web 22A and extending from the forward outer surface of the flange 28A rearwardly substantially equidistant with respect to the web 22A.

An examination of Figs. 12 and 16 reveals a further modification of the device indicated by the numeral 20B, which is similar to the two devices 20 and 20A. The improvement of the device 208 resides in forming an element 34B having a pair of relatively short prongs 36B and 383 which are alignedly perforated transversely adjacent the bight B, as at 74, for receiving a single retruding wire or member 443. The element 343 is connected to the device 20B similar to the connection between the element 34 and the device 20. The principal advantage of the short pronged device 203 is that the retruding pressure or force can be more effectively applied to the device than when the long pronged device 20 is used and yet this device, 20B, provides some resilience to the retruding pressure by the substance of the element 34B between the prongs 36B, 38B and the flange 28B. Furthermore this device, 20B, by including the pronged element 34B provides a means for parting the lips of the wearer and therefore permits air to enter the mouth to relieve sucking action between the device and the wearers gums to preclude irritation of the gums. This air entry is accomplished in the device 20B in a manner similar to that described hereinabove for the devices 20 and 20A and may include a wide aperture or slot 553 extended rearwardly through the web 223 from the bight 40B including openings 52B extended vertically through the web or, if desired, a single small opening or aperture 51B may be positioned through the web as shown by Fig. 12.

Otherwise the operation of the device 20B is identical to the operation of the devices 20 and 20A described hereinabove.

Obviously the invention is susceptible to some change or alteration without defeating its practicability, and I therefore do not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein, further than I am limited by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device formed from resilient material for exerting a corrective influence against dental malocclusion, including: a substantially semi-elliptical horizontally disposed web having parallel upper and lower surfaces adapted to be received between the maxilla and mandible, dental arches of the wearer, the outer edge of said web having a curvature substantially conforming to the normal maxilla dental arch of a human being; a flange extending upwardly from the periphery of said web and adapted to lie between the teeth and upper lip of the wearer, the inner surface of said flange inclined rearwardly and upwardly from the forward medial portion of said web and adapted to contiguously contact the anterior surfaces of the incisor teeth of the wearer, said flange forming an inside radius at its juncture with the forward portion of said web, said device having a breathing slot extending from the outer surface to the inner surface and entirely surrounded by the material of the device; and retruding means connected to the forward portion of said device.

2. A device formed from resilient material for exerting a corrective influence against dental malocclusion, including: a substantially semi-elliptical horizontally disposed web having parallel upper and lower surfaces adapted to be received between the maxilla and mandible dental arches of the wearer, the outer edge of said web having a curvature substantially conforming to the normal maxilla dental arch of a human being; a flange extending upwardly from the periphery of said web and adapted to lie between the teeth and upper lip of the wearer, the inner surface of said flange inclined rearwardly and upward from the forward medial portion of said web and adapted to contiguously contact the anterior surfaces of the incisor teeth of the wearer, said flange forming an inside radius at its juncture with the forward portion of said web, said device having a breathing slot extending from the outer surface to the inner surface and entirely surrounded by the material of the device; and retruding means imbedded medially its ends within the forward portion of said flange and extending laterally and rearwardly therefrom.

3. A device formed from resilient material for exerting a corrective influence against malocclusion, including: a substantially semi-elliptical horizontally disposed web having parallel upper and lower surfaces adapted to be received between the maxilla and mandible dental arches of the wearer, the outer edge of said web having a curvature substantially conforming to the normal maxilla dental arch of a human being; a flange extending upwardly from the periphery of said web and adapted to lie between the teeth and upper lip of the wearer, the inner surface of said flange inclined rearwardly and upward from the forward medial portion of said web and adapted to contiguously contact the anterior surfaces of the incisor teeth of the wearer, said flange forming an inside radius at its juncture with the forward portion of said web, said device having a breathing slot extending from the outer surface to the inner surface and entirely surrounded by the material of the device; a pair of forwardly projecting laterally spaced-apart prongs carried by the medial forward portion of said flange, said prongs adapted to project forwardly between and beyond the lips of the wearer; and a pair of retruding members each connected at one end to the respective free ends of said prongs.

4. A device formed from resilient material for exerting a corrective influence against malocclusion, including: a substantially semi-elliptical horizontally disposed web having parallel upper and lower surfaces adapted to be received between the maxilla and mandible dental arches of the wearer, the outer edge of said web having a curvature substantially conforming to the normal maxilla dental arch of a human being; a flange extending upwardly from the periphery of said web and adapted to lie between the teeth and upper lip of the wearer, the inner surface of said flange inclined rearwardly and upward from the forward medial portion of said web and adapted to contiguously contact the anterior surfaces of the incisor teeth of the wearer, said flange forming an inside radius at its juncture with the forward portion of said web, said device having a breathing, slot extending through said web from the forward outer to the inner rearward surfaces and entirely surrounded by the material of the device; and retruding means imbedded medially its ends Within the forward portion of said flange and adapted to extend laterally outward and rearwardly of the flange between the lips of the wearer.

5. A device formed from resilient material for exerting a corrective influence against malocclusion, including: a substantially semi-elliptical horizontally disposed web having parallel upper and lower surfaces adapted to be received between the maxilla and mandible dental arches of the wearer, the outer edge of said web having a curvature substantially conforming to the maxilla dental arch of a human being; a flange extending upwardly from the periphery of said web and adapted to lie between the teeth and upper lip of the wearer, the inner surface of said flange being inclined rearwardly and upward from the forward medial portion of said web and adapted to contiguously contact the anterior surfaces of the incisor teeth of the wearer, said flange forming an inside radius at its juncture with the forward portion of said web; a pair of forwardly projecting laterally spaced-apart prongs carried by the medial forward portion of said flange, said prongs adapted to project forwardly between and beyond the lips of the wearer, said device having a breathing slo-t extending from the boundary of the outer surface between said prongs through said web to the boundary of the inner surface thereof and being entirely surrounded by the substance of the device; and retruding members connected to the free end portions of said prongs.

6. A dental device formed of resilient material for exerting a corrective influence against malocclusion, including: a substantially semi-elliptical horizontally disposed web having parallel upper and lower surfaces adapted to be received between the maxilla and mandible dental arches of the wearer, the outer edge of said web having a curvature substantially conforming to the maxilla dental arch of a human being; a flange extending upwardly from the periphery of said web and adapted to lie between the teeth and upper lip of the wearer, the inner surface of said flange being inclined rearwardly and upward from the forward medial portion of said web and adapted to contiguously contact the anterior surfaces of the incisor teeth of the wearer, said flange forming an inside radius at its juncture with the forward portion of said web; a pair of forwardly projecting laterally spaced-apart prongs carried by the forwardportion of said flange, said prongs adapted to project forwardly between andv beyond the lips of the wearer; a tubular member carried by said web between the boundaries of theupper and lower surfaces thereof, said tubular member extending from the boundary of the outer forward. surface between said prongs rearwardly through the boundary of the rearward surface of said web and projecting rearwardly of its juncture with the web substantially equidistant with respect to the rearward limit of the ends of said web; and retruding members connected to the free end portions of said prongs.

7. Adental appliance formed of resilient material for exerting a corrective influence against malocclusion, in cluding: a substantially semi-elliptical horizontally disposed web having parallel upper and lower surfaces adapted to be received between the maxilla and mandible dental arches of the wearer, the outer edge of said web having a curvature substantially conforming to the maxilla dental arch of a human being; a flange extending upwardly from the periphery of said web and adapted to lie between the teeth and upper lip of the wearer, the inner surface of said flange being inclined rearwardly and upwardly from the forward medial portion of said web and adapted to contiguously contact the anterior surfaces of the incisor teeth of the wearer, said flange forming an inside radius at its juncture with the forward portion of said web; a pair of forwardly projecting laterally spacedapart prongs carried by the forward portion of said flange, said prongs adapted to project forwardly between and beyond the lips of the wearer; a tubular member car ried by said web between the boundaries of the upper and lower surfaces thereof, said tubular member extending between the boundaries of the forward outer surface between said prongs and the rearward surface of the web, said web having an opening extending between its upper and lower surfcss rearwardly of said flange in communication with the bore of said tubular member; and retruding members connected to the free end portions of said prongs.

8. A dental appliance formed of resilient material for exerting a corrective influence against malocclusion, including: a substantially semi-elliptical horizontally disposed web having parallel upper and lower surfaces adapted to be received between the maxilla and mandible denal arches of the wearer, the outer edge of said web having a curvature substantially conforming to the maxilla dental arch of a human being; a. flange extending upwardly from the periphery of said web and adapted to lie between the teeth and upper lip of the wearer, the inner surface of said flange being inclined rear-wardly and upwardly from the forward medial portion of said web and adapted to contiguously contact the anterior surfaces of the incisor teeth of the wearer, said flange forming a relatively short inside radius at its juncture with the forward portion of said web; a tubular member centrally carried by said web between the boundaries of the upper and lower surfaces thereof, said tubular member extending through said web from the forward surface of said flange and terminating rearwardly substantially equidistant with the end of said web; and a retruding wire deformed medially its ends to describe an inverted U- shape, the U-shaped portion of said retruding wire en- No references cited. 

